http://www.press.ierek.com ISSN (Print: 2537-0154, online: 2537-0162) International Journal on: The Academic Research Community Publication DOI: 10.21625/archive.v2i4.425 Roof Planting as a Tool for Sustainable Development in Residential Buildings in Egypt Vitta Abdel Rehim Ibrahim1 1Ass. Prof., Architecture Department, P.H.I. Abstract Roof has direct influence on thermal ease and energy preservation in and around buildings. Roof Planting is a strategy that can be a beneficial solution in diverse climates to decrease energy utilization in buildings, proposes enriching the aesthetic potentials and architecture presentation of buildings and for enhancing the built environment and increasing investment opportunity. It helps to tackle the shortage of green space in numerous areas and delivers the city with open spaces that aids ease heat effect and offers human population with a correlation to the outside. The research problem presented in the demonstrations of the confronts presented by quick urbanization and expan- sion, many environmental problems as pollution, dense urbanization and heat effect that creates a negative impact on the environment. The fast growing population in Cities undergo from vanishing of green areas which lead to dispossession of open space. The paper assumes that by applying roof planting to the case studies in Residential buildings in Egypt can improve quality of life, as an effective tool for sustainable development goals represented in social, economic and environmental factors. The paper methodology focuses on the analysis of some international examples and the lessons learned and applicability in Residential buildings in Egypt. The research aims to present the potentials of roof planting in abiding electricity utilization and decreasing CO2 releases in hot environments. The paper studies the impact of roof planting on the performance of buildings. The results demonstrate the sustain- able development goals of using roof planting under diverse design conditions and postulate assistance for design of roof planting in alike climates. © 2019 The Authors. Published by IEREK press. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Keywords Roof Planting; Sustainable development; Residential Buildings; Egypt 1. Introduction Combining plants with architecture and formed landscapes have been assimilated into the urban fabric and consid- ered elevated greenspaces have lasted prolonged time ago with architecture (Velazquez, 2005). They are as an easy and efficient approach for enhancing the built environment and rising investment prospect, have several environ- mental benefits such as to decrease flood risk, develop rainwater runoff quality, lessen urban heat island, building energy saving and keep urban wildlife habitat. (Sheng et al., 2011). The need to apply green roof is significant for the well being of succeeding generation (Ismail et al. 2009). Green roofs are becoming popular for sustainable development.(Sheng et al., 2011). The usage of vegetated roofs is a solution, which heat energy consumed by evapo-transpiration. It provides to pg. 496 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication vertical mingling of air, so the temperature above them inclines than the surrounding areas built. Warm air increases above the hard surfaces and is altered by the renewed air and decreasing the heat island consequence. (Sheweka, 2012) The building sector has an essential responsibility in the international energy and environmental developments as it occupies almost 40 % of the energy. It is facing a speedy progress in countries throughout the world due to issues like population increase, infrastructure expansion, upgrading and urbanization (Alnaser, 2008). To challenge the fronting of energy and environmental complications, the world is directing to encourage sustainable improvement as is revealed by the current global agreement on climate difference. (Paris Agreement. http://www.cop21.gouv.fr /en/195-countries-adopt-the-first-universal- climate-agreement/ (2017). The usual roof type in residential buildings in Egypt is the flat roof (Fig 1.). In rural areas, roof tops are used for numerous purposes; pigeon houses, drying washed clothes and in some buildings extra rooms are built from light material and used for living. Some buildings rooftops have been abandoned and become housings for storing litter, a place for satellite receivers and unnecessary old household properties. (Zacharia & Dabaieh, 2016) Figure 1. Poultry room with red brick; Neglected rooftops in downtown Cairo. Source: https://webpages.uidaho.edu/larc380/n ew380/pages/greenRoof.html The paper will show the existing state of the rooftops of the field study and will conclude with a recommendation for evaluation and monitoring in addition to the environmental impact. The above parameters have been explored for residential building blocks situates in Cairo, Egypt. 1.1. Research problem Air quality amounts in Cairo (Fig. 2.) have demonstrated hazardous concentrations of lead, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, gathered particulate matter levels due to periods of unregulated car releases and urban settlements that devastate ecosystems. Green roof technology encompasses growing plants on rooftops interchanging green spaces that was damaged when the building was created. Figure 2. CO2 Emissions from Egypt, CarbonDioxide Information Analysis Center pg. 497 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication 1.2. Research aim and objectives The research aims to explore the potential of green roofs on saving energy when invested on residential building in Egypt, reductions of CO2 and sustainable development in residential buildings in Egypt. 1.3. Methodology (Fig. 3.) Figure 3. Research Methodology (The researcher) 2. Literature Review 2.1. Green roofs Green roofs used to cover impermeable roof surfaces with living plant material, considered a sustainable design element in the ecological design that can assist keep the environment by shrinking developmental influences on our societies (Velazquez, 2005). They are envisioned one of the typical methods used in sustainable development principles. (Gedge et al., 2004). 2.2. Types of Green Roofs - Table 1,2&3- (Fig. 4-5 &6) Intensive Green Roofs Table 1. (http://www.greenrooftechnology.com/intensive-green-roof) Extensive Green Roofs Table 2. (http://www.greenrooftechnology.com/extensive-green-roof) pg. 498 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication Semi Intensive Green Roofs Table 3. (http://www.greenrooftechnology.com/semi-intensive-green-roof) Intensive green roofs have richer soil and extra diversities of vegetation, but are expensive to build and uphold. Extensive green roofs are inexpensive and easier to build and maintain. It encompasses shallow soil, have less collections of vegetation and rarely reachable contrasting its counterpart. (Zahir et al., 2014). Table 4. Summarizes the types of green roofs. pg. 499 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication 2.3. Example of green roofs types The follwing table showing types of green roofs used in some buildings in Malaysia (Table 5.) 2.4. Components of green roofs 3. Benefits and Challenges of green roof There are many benefits for implementing green roofs (Table 7.) and factors considered when applying green roofs (Table 7.) pg. 500 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication (https://www.gsa.gov/portal/mediaId/158783/fileName/The Benefits and Challenges of Green Roofs on Public and Commercial Buildings.action) pg. 501 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication 4. Sustainable development application in Architecture Figure 4. Sustaianble development components Sustaianable development is a arrangement of progress in which reserve usage commitments to meet human needs while maintaining the environement, these requirements can be met only in the present and for generations to come (Fig. 4). (Obiefuna) To achieve sustainable development, buildings must be designed inclusive of the concepts of development. Such buildings will have a positive impact on the environmental health at communities and the quality of life. The concept of Sustainability challengees architects to think and act in terms of long-term consequencesof their decisions on the diminshing resources of the world. (Dunnett & Kingsbury, 2008) 4.1. Green roof’s role in sustainable development (Sheng et al., 2011). Table 9. pg. 502 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication 4.2. International Case Study: Table 10. Shows some examples of case studies 5. Roof Planting Implentation in Egypt As a result of the steady increase in population, required an increase in the number of buildings, resulted in a sharp decline in green areas, followed by many problems. Air pollution arises with increased use of environmen- tally harmful materials. This has negative impact which affect the city’s climate and deterioration in the mental healthiness of the body due to the overcrowding, shortage of oxygen and the lack of green areas. There are several local initiatives that have worked on the idea of rooftop container gardens for producing food for domestic use. The first rooftop gardens in urban areas in Egypt started in the year 2000 under the leadership of the Research Unit for Agriculture Land and Ain Shams University, in collaboration with several local NGOs (Bekheit & Latif, 2013). The (FAO) Food and agriculture organization and MALR established the project titled “Green Food from Green Roofs in Urban and Pre-urban Environments” to develop and demonstrate simple rooftop micro-green systems for vegetable production in two pilot sites: Alexandria and Cairo (Bekheit & Latif, 2013). Numerous case studies characterize successful projects applied by diverse non-governmental organizations (NGO), public institutions and private civil proposals. For example Ibn Kassir foundation, in Al-Zawya Al-Hamra, Cairo, formed a roof farm from wooden containers (barrels) with plastic layers occupied with peat moss or perlite used as substrates drainage is compelled through small plastic hoses to buckets. The producing leafy crops as parsley, pg. 503 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication radish, and carrots. (Attia et al., 2009) In several Arab cities, many problems endure including environmental, social and economic. The methods for application are modest and feasible and cost effective. The utmost essential issues affecting are the climate, the constructional and economic aspects, and providing support and sustainability to resolve various complications of diverse background and characteristics, and stipulate to abounding the quality of life of the condensed Arab cities. (Attia et al., 2009) In Egypt, soil-less cultivation is used to nurture plants atop the roofs of buildings. Plants are produced on wooden tables, delivering a healthy and fresh source of food in addition with no pesticides. Vegetebles and fruits can be produced as self production for building occupants (Fig. 5), furthermore several projects are organized in schools as an overview to this technology. ( A. Monem, 2005) Figure 5. Source: Central Laboratory for agricultural climate (2006) There are many positive effects of surface cultivation on the environment: 1. Leads to a reduction in the amount of pollutants present in the air. 2. Increases the oxygen ratio and reduces carbon dioxide by urban air. 3. Leads to the cleaning of roofs of different buildings and facilities and the disposal of waste and fouling stored on surfaces and adversely affect the public health of the occupants of these buildings in the long run. 4. Reduce the effect of the Warm Heat Island, which is clearly evident during the summer months in large cities where a clear change in weather is the most important sign of the city’s warming up to 5 ◦ C. Figure 6. Figure 6. Studies have shown worldwide that the phenomenon of (Urban Heat Islands)different negative effects, including the following: pg. 504 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication 5. reduces the harmful effects of mobile stations where plants are found to absorb electromagnetic waves emitted from industrial plants. 6. reduce the noise ratio and the proximity of the nearby areas of the airports and trains which leads to absorption of a large part of the sound and reduces the reflected waves. 7. is a small project that can be carried out by many groups of society such as youth - housewives - special needs - students in leisure and vacations, which makes their leisure time useful. 5.1. Analyzing Residential Building example Case study: Project Brief, Table 11. pg. 505 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication 6. Field Study A field study showing the current use situation of roof planting on Residential blocks of flats Table 12. & Figure 7.a. to 7.j.. The results shown according to screening questionnaire. Table 13. 6.1. Questionnaire survey Results Using questionnaire survey (Quantitative Methodology) in order to better understanding of residents preference of function of rooftop garden.(Table .13 )Resident’s preference of function of Roof top Garden. These tables show the number of 350 respondents, Residents particpated in this survey questionnaire are 300. pg. 506 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication Figure 7. (from a to j): The field study for roof planting application to convience the residential users who have faced problems (health, pollution,..) pg. 507 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication 7. Discussion Applicability of Green Roofs in Egypt in Residential Buildings: Encouraging interaction among industry professional, public policy making, need public awarness of green roofs, The cost can be twice as much to install, there are other benefits to owners of buildings as saving energy. Added benefits include: stormwater managmnet, ecological, economic, aesthetic and psychological issues. There is a lack of the awarness to the community, building owners and occupants about benefits provided by roof planting. Lack of technical information on how to build them, standards and building codes to green roof design and constrcution.The economic costs of installing green roofs including the maintainace: Lower energy costs due to the cooling effect. The barriers in green roof implementation: architects are not convinced of the benefits. Moreover, the lack of policies and guidelines, the government has not enforced it in the Building By-Law. Application restrictions from the client and the problems to persuade them. This technology is considered new and the nonexistence of resource has upraised the rate of installation and maintenance. Absence of knowledge in roof planting technology. Nonexistence of need in the construction industry market. 8. Conclusion and Recommendation Roof Planting is one possible technique to reduce the devastation of natural habitats, while foster the built environ- ment. Roofs represent 21% to 26% residential and nonresidential of urban areas (Wong, 2005) they stipulate an exceptional chance. These unused areas may develop an approach to regain habitat that was lost as a consequence of construction whereas furthermore assisting in the securing the environment throughout additional sustainable performs. Roof planting has a positive impact on social, economic and environemental issues. This research illustrates pg. 508 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication the majority of filed study residents who particpate in the survey questionnaire, they need awarness concerning advantages and benefits of roof planting towards sustainable development. This study help residents to receive better environement on their living areas. Recommendations The necessity to decide the kind of plants and system of planting is crucial in constructing green roof. Depending on particular climate and surrounding, the appropriateness of plant species for roof planting in certain countries should be determined. The correct plant selection assists preserving the sustainability of roof planting. The principal apprehension of modifying diverse kind of plants are utmost essentially amongst soil and kind of plants involved in diverse climate such as temperate, tropical, dry, polar and highland climates. Furthermore, should be considered are the maintenance, financial, and life cycle analysis of the roof to be planted. Appendix A. Roof Planting application (Screening Questionnaire) September, 2017 – Cairo – Egypt pg. 509 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication 9. References 1. Nigel Dunnett, Noël Kingsbury. Planting Green Roofs and Living Walls. Timber Press; 2008 2. Nigel Dunnett, Dusty Gedge, John Little, Edmund C. Snodgrass. Small Green Roofs: Low-Tech Options for Greener Living. Timber Press, Portland- london; 2011 3. Carl Smith, Nigel Dunnett, Andy Clayden. Residential Landscape Sustainability: A Checklist Tool. Black- well Publishing, USA; 2008 4. Samar Mohamed Sheweka, Nourhan Magdy Mohamed. Green Facades as a New Sustainable Approach Towards Climate Change. SciVerse Science Direct. Energy Procedia 18(2012) 507 – 520, Elsevier 5. Architectural Services Department, Study on Green Roof Application in Hong Kong, Final Report, Urbis Limited; 2007. https://www.archsd.gov.hk/media/11630/green roof study final report.pdf 6. Ahmed El-Sayed Abdel Salam. The future of Green- Roofs in Egypt: The Economical and Environmental benefits when installing gree-roof on a residential building in Cairo. Master thesis, Cairo University; 2012 7. Monica Zacharia, Marwa Dabaieh. Container Rooftop Gardens from Recyclying and Up-cycling Municipal Wastes; Sustainable Vital Technologies in Engineering & Informatics. BUE ACE1.; 2016 8. Attia, S., Mahmoud, A. Green Roofs in Cairo: A Holistic Approach for Healthy productive Cities, Confer- ence Proceeding on Greening Rooftops for sustainable Communities, June, Atlanta, USA. http://orbi.uig.ac .be/handle/2268/166604 9. Kristin L. Getter and D. Bradley Rowe. The Role of Extensive Green Roofs in Sustainable Development. Hort Science 41(5): 1276-1285; 2006. 10. Lee Xia Sheng, Ati Rosemary Binti Mohd Ariffin, Hazreena Binti Hussein. Assessing the green roof tech- nology in green building rating systems. International Building & Infrastricture Technology Conference. Malaysia; 2011. 11. Hassan Saeed Khan and Muhammad Asif. Impact of Green Roof and Orienation on the Energy Performance of Buildings: Acasefrom Saudi Arabia. Sustainabilty 2017, 9, 640, Basel, Switzerland, www.mdpi.com/jou rnal/sustainability pg. 510 Ibrahim / The Academic Research Community Publication 12. Linda S. Velazquez. Organic Greenroof Architecture: Sustainable Design for the New Millennium ‘ Making the most of your Building’s “Fifth façade”. Environmental Quality Management/Summer 2005. Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 13. Muhammad Ashraf Fauzi, Nurhayati Abdul Malek, and Jamilah Othman. Evaluation of Green Roof System for Green Building Projects in Malaysia. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology. 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Potentiality of ecological friendly effect on human behavior of green building design. 1st National Conference on Environment- Behaviour Studies, Faculty of Architecture, Planning and Surveying (FSPU), UniversitiTeknologi MARA (UiTM), Shall Alam. 18. Alnaser, W.; Flanagan, R. Model for calculating the sustainable building index (SBI) in the kingdom of Bahrain. Energy Build 2008, 40, 2037–2043. 19. Paris Agreement. Available online: http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en/195-countries-adopt-the-first-universal- climate-agreement/ ( 2017). 20. D’Souza, U. The thermal performance of green roofs in a hot, humid microclimate. IWIT Trans. Ecol. Environ. 2013, 173, 475–486 21. Gedge, D., & Frith, M. 2004. Green Roofs: Benefits and Cost Implications. Livingroof.org & Ecology Consultancy Ltd. 84. 22. DeNardo et al., 2005; Liescke, 1998; Moran et al., 2004; Rowe et al., 2003; VanWoert et al., 2005a. 23. https://webpages.uidaho.edu/larc380/new380/pages/greenRoof.html pg. 511 Introduction Research problem Research aim and objectives Methodology (Fig. 3.) Literature Review Green roofs Types of Green Roofs - Table 1,2&3- (Fig. 4-5 &6) Example of green roofs types Components of green roofs Benefits and Challenges of green roof Sustainable development application in Architecture Green roof's role in sustainable development (Sheng et al., 2011). Table 9. International Case Study: Table 10. Shows some examples of case studies Roof Planting Implentation in Egypt Analyzing Residential Building example Field Study Questionnaire survey Results Discussion Conclusion and Recommendation References